page_title: Zantedeschia aethiopica
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Zantedeschia aethiopica / Description
caption_attribution_description: Zantedeschia aethiopica Français&#160;: arum
context_page_description: Zantedeschia aethiopica, commonly known as calla lily and arum lily, is a species in the family Araceae, native to southern Africa in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland.
context_section_description: Zantedeschia aethiopica is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant, evergreen where rainfall and temperatures are adequate, deciduous where there is a dry season. Its preferred habitat is in streams and ponds or on the banks. It grows to 0.6–1 m (2.0–3.3 ft) tall, with large clumps of broad, arrow shaped dark green leaves up to 45 cm (18 in) long. The inflorescences are large and are produced in spring, summer and autumn, with a pure white spathe up to 25 cm (9.8 in) and a yellow spadix up to 90 mm (3 ¹⁄₂ in) long. The spadix produces a faint, sweet fragrance.
  Zantedeschia aethiopica contains calcium oxalate, and ingestion of the raw plant may cause a severe burning sensation and swelling of lips, tongue, and throat; stomach pain and diarrhea may occur.
caption: Emerging leaf growth
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